One half of the main event is set. By virtue of winning the 32nd G1 Climax Rainmaker Kazuchika Okada will challenge the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion whomever that may be at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Jay White retained his championship against Tama Tonga and will defend against Okada at Wrestle Kingdom.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Jay White(c) vs Kazuchika Okada
Last edited by Defrost; October 10th, 2022 at 10:50 AM.
The first defense of IWGP Women's Championship will take place at Wrestle Kingdom 17
So far we know
Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada for the World Heavyweight Championship
A defense of the IWGP Women's Championship
The finals of the NJPW World Television Championship Tournament
I am behind on what is going on over there. TV title?
It was announced on today's show. Basically sounds like the Stardom High Speed title. They want short fast paced matches. Every match has a 15 minute time limit. All matches for the title will be on NJPW World and youtube for free. Sounds like they mostly plan to have it on younger guys and do matches for it in the smaller tour towns.Originally Posted by MTR
Also the President of TV Asahi Sports was there for the unveiling so I really kinda think someone at TV Asahi watched Dynamite on NJPW World and saw the TNT and TBS titles and had New Japan do a title like that for them.
I personally love tv titles that have like 15 to 20 minute limits and defended on tv all the time but this just seems out of place. I get having a title to defend in smaller towns and for younger talent but seems like they just keep adding titles.
This will all lead to someone unifying 4-5 of the singles titles into one mega title which will be cool.
Sounds about right.
Announced at the Press Conference
Taiji Ishimori defends the Jr title against Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado, and Master Wato
I am meh on Wato from what I have seen at times. I would have liked a triple threat there but I get Wato just pinned Ishimori.
Now I'm not saying anything is going to come of this because I have no idea, but Toshiaki Kawada randomly showed up to do commentary on yesterday's NJPW show, was challenged to a match by Taichi, and didn't say no.
So after tonight's show what we have is
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori vs Master Wato vs El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Women's Championship: Winner of KAIRI vs Mayu Iwatani vs X
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr vs Ren Narita
Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega
So here is the card as we know it
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship: Taji Ishimori vs El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi vs Master Wato
IWGP Women's Championship: KAIRI vs Tam Nakano
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr vs Ren Narita
IWGP Tag Team Championship: FTR vs Winners of World Tag League
IWGP Jr Tag Team Championship: United Empire vs Winners of Super Jr Tag League
Love me some match graphics
Hey you know how they've been doing Double Domes and then added a Yokohama Arena show last year but this year there was only gonna be one Wrestle Kingdom show?
Well Wrestle Kingdom 17 Night 2 in the Yokohama Arena will take place on January 21, 2023.
Interesting
Should be KUSHIDA in that title match! (I know about the injury/illness or whatever it was that kept him off the show, but they really should have KUSHIDA defeat Wato and replace him.
Still will be a fun match
I totally disagree. KUSHIDA has been boring as hell since coming back and Wato was awesome in that great tag match in Osaka.
I am a mark for hype videos
new japan is the best at them and it's not even close.
PWInsider is reporting Sasha Banks will be at Wrestle Kingdom.
What?
Rumor has it she was gonna start taking wrestling bookings again in January. If the report is accurate my guess is she comes out after KAIRI vs Tam match.
So has she been officially released from the WWE?
Well right now it just seems to be PWI so waiting for someone like fightful.com to confirm this.
It would be fun to see her at the event but I am just not sure I want to believe that just yet.
Being at Wrestle Kingdom versus being gone from WWE are two different things.
True since HHH is more open to letting people go do something with another company like Nakumura for Muta but at this point no one really knows what her status with the company is. If she shows up at WK then surly it is to set up a match so more than one appearance.
Again I am not holding my breath on this until other sites are able to confirm this or not or I see it for myself when I watch WK.
Of course now people are saying she will be Saraya's mystery partner for that tag match against Baker and Hayter
Sasha taking what she's learned in WWE and spreading it around can't be a bad thing. I liked her work but I'm not someone who has even noticed she's been gone. Do I wish the situation with WWE would've been handled better by everyone? No doubt.
The thing is with her possibly showing up in NJPW is that I think if memory serves me correctly Danielson said or it was rumored that he wanted to be part of the G1 or something and Vince was willing to sign off on it to keep him as an official WWE talent. So do I think, especially when we know deals can be made (Jushin Liger wrestling in NXT or the more recent Muta v. Nakamura match that will happen in 2023), that Sasha Banks in NJPW v. Kairi Sane could happen? No doubt.
What I want is for the bullshit to end though lol. If her and Naomi are gone let's get that out there. I do feel bad for Naomi as it really seems like nobody gives a fuck what she does. I'm a fan, would love to see her return but yeah, let's figure it out and put our minds at ease.
NJPW has not been coy leaking that dealing with WWE over Karl Anderson of all people has been like pulling teeth so I doubt there is anything on going between those two promotions.
Pretty much with you. hate how it all went down and I hate that we don't really know what the fuck is going on. Are they gone or are they not?
I like Sasha and Naomi and I would like to see them back but at the same time I don't think the women's division is hurt with their absence per say. I think it would do good for Sasha to get away from the WWE for a bit and do some stuff in Japan or whatever .
If this is true then I'd think Banks would also be the mystery partner AEW starting building up last night for the show in LA.
She'll be back in time for Mania.
Man I keep forgetting that Karl Anderson is still one of the champs over there. But to say there's nothing going on between the two companies despite that comment right there....I mean there's obviously SOMETHING. I don't follow NJPW in any form on social media and I don't read a ton of dirtsheet talk so I really have no clue what to believe all things considered when it comes to that company.
Yeah I don't think the women's division has really NEEDED either of them for a very very long time as it is.
I feel like since they didn't strip him of the title like they normally do when people miss a scheduled title defense that there may be some smoke and mirrors going on. Could just me reading too much into stuff.
Any other company and people would be thinking seeds were being planted for a NJPW v. (insert non-WWE company)
Since it's WWE and the fact they've barely worked with anyone since Bret and Diesel were champ, I can see the hesitation to think it's a possible storyline.
The finals of the Super Jr Tag League are YOH and Lio Rush vs Ace Austin and Chris Bey.
The winners will face Catch 22 at Wrestle Kingdom for the Jr Tag Titles.
https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-j...ed-through-wwe
The Observer report on Sasha Banks
It's looking like at least some sections will be allowed to cheer at the Dome.
Aussie Open vs Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi is your World Tag League final. The winners will face FTR for the tag titles at the Dome.
Guessing Shingo, Naito and Sanada challenge for the 6 man titles and Tanahashi challenges for the NEVER title and that's the card, with the KOPW battle royal on the pre show. Best WK since AEW started on paper, though I guess 2/3 nights diluting it, and COVID, have played a part in that.
My guess all along has been Muto/Tanahashi/Shooter vs Naito/SANADA/Shingo, but the Yokohama show left me in some doubt on that. But it works if you figure Muto gets the pin there and the main event of Yokohama is Okada vs Muto for the title.
Being reported that Sasha is going to be the highest paid per appearance deal for New Japan which previously had been Jericho I believe at $100K
New Japan are smart. Putting the title on Kairi who had all that WWE/NXT exposure. Willing to shell out that much money for Sasha Banks. They want this women's division thing to pop off.
Karl Anderson vs. Tama Tonga is going to be the NEVER Match.
Naito/SANADA/Shingo vs. Tanahashi/Mutoh/Nakamura would be the match I would try to do if I was in charge of anything, but they will likely challenge House of Torture for the 6 Man Belts.
I was expecting Aussie Open to win Tag leage and Bullet Club to win Super Juniors Tag. I was wrong on both accounts.
Guess Tama takes belt from Anderson at WK.
Press Conference is at 1 AM Eastern Time
Cheering is back!
Also we have a full card
Ryohei Oiwa vs Boltin Oleg
The RAMBO
Tatsumi Fujinami/'Minoru Suzuki/Tiger Mask IV vs Yuji Nagata/Satoshi Kojima/Togi Makabe
IWGP Jr Tag Titles: Catch 22 vs Lio Rush & YOH
IWGP Women's Championship: KAIRI vs Tam Nakano
IWGP Tag Titles: FTR vs Bishamon
NJPW World Television Title: Zack Sabre Jr vs Ren Narita
Piss Break: Karl Anderson vs Tama Tonga
Keiji Muto's Final NJPW Match: Keiji Muto/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Shota Umino vs Tetsuya Naito/SANADA/BUSHI
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title: Taiji Ishimori vs Master Wato vs El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP US Heavyweight Title: Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega
IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada
Also Sasha Banks is expected to make her NJPW debut on this show.
Good card. I will be reactivating my subscription closer to time to watch it. May do it a little earlier than I normally do to watch some stuff before hand from this year.
with cheering back i may try to watch this live for the first time since 2018
Yeah cheering back is great. I am going to admit night 1 was a struggle to stay awake despite good matches and I think that was in part of no crowd reactions and being old and not able to do all nighters anymore. lol And I got hit with covid the next day so didn't even try to do night 2.
It's kind of interesting to me in the build up to Wrestle Kingdom 17 just how obvious it is that the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 18 is going to be Okada vs Ospreay.
Suzuki-Gun's final match has been announced for the 12/23 Road to TOKYO DOME show main event:
Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, El Desperado and TAKA Michinoku
VS.
Zack Sabre Jr, TAICHI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI
If I don't renew my subscription before this show I will probably make a point to watch it after I do and before WK.
Kenny Omega interview
https://www.njpw1972.com/140111
VTRs with English Subtitles
They do such a good job with those videos.
I watched Great Muta's match at the Stardom crossover last night. Lots of mist going around there at the end. Been poking around New Japan's streaming service watching some stuff since I restarted the subscription.
Well MOTY is sewn up. Unless the rematch is better.
Also can't believe Kenny got them to pay for the rights to One Winged Angel
Think I’ll watch this after work.
Very flat debut for the former Ms. Banks. Terrible look, terrible gear, bad promo and lackluster theme.
I'm all about Sasha wrestling in Japan. I don't know what kind of draw women's wrestling actually is over in Japan but I love it. The upside to her is that she was in WWE for so long and their global presence is so strong that she will put eyes on women's wrestling over there in general. But will she be accepted by the Japanese?
I'm always intrigued by wrestlers who have worked in WWE for many years and then go to Japan or Mexico where the wrestling is treated differently by the fans and the wrestlers. Can Sasha hang with strong style wrestling? We're about to find out. Wrestling Asuka in WWE is a little different than if they had met in Japan.
*Edit: Ok I will admit I only saw a couple pics on Instagram before posting this but I just saw the entire segment....Glass half full approach, still excited. Glass half empty...she's fucked lol. What was she even trying to do? Did WWE take her mic skills too?
Last edited by Nash Diesel; January 4th, 2023 at 11:19 AM.
Saw a clip on Twitter. That hair…yikes!! Also that move whatever it was wasn’t good.
There are quite a few women I've noticed who have a modified Gory Special type finisher and they all look fake as fuck and sloppy. They're all tiny women doing it as well with no strength. It looked like she was trying to do a Gory Special into a DDT but the timing was off.
Let's be honest though, Sasha Banks can be sloppy and reckless. Both to herself and her opponents. One of the most disturbing images in wrestling if not in general is her mule kicking Paige and Paige going into immediate paralysis. It was like watching Debbie's death in Nightmare on Elm St 4.
I want her to do good. I don't see a spike in New Japan World subscriptions considering the hassle to watch it on your tv but shout out to Youtube and social media because I feel like she's going to, at least the first couple matches, bring eyes to Japanese wrestling.
Here's my question: What's stopping her from showing up at the Royal Rumble? How insane would that be?? Keep in mind, per Danielson he was going to be allowed to work G1 but he still opted to dip and go to AEW. Mickie James showing up at Rumble, that was under Vince's watch. I also read that Bayley was at this show.....Very interesting and with WWE about to launch NXT Japan would it be shocking to anyone that there are more bridges reopening between New Japan and WWE?
I love saaha as well and wish her nothing but the best. I think she got a great pop from the crowd, especially for a Japanese audience. Just nothing in that segment work. Her music sounded like a beat put together for Kriss Kross that never got used. ,She couldn't have called her cousin up and got something dusted up and out of his closet?
I thought well maybe Snoop has brand loyalty until I remembered he did go wrestle for AEW and the 1 star Frogsplash he did....
Again I'm interested in how she'll transition to working that style. Can she physically take it? We'll see. That move was too busy but it's Japan most of the finishers are completely unrealistic minus the lariat.
I've seen way worse debuts that worked out fine. Plus the idea is to get eyes not watching Stardom to watch it, and buy tickets to big NJPW American shows where the women are wrestling.
Nobody said it was the worst debut. Everyone here seems pretty glass half full about Sasha in Japan.
We're well aware of what her purpose is I mean you've clearly read the posts. It's crystal clear obvious why she's there, why she's getting paid, we don't need Japanese wrestling mark Defrost white knighting her.
on the main event now, what a show
i was disappointed kenny came out to devil's saky at the press conference, cause hearing it for the first time in the arena for his entrance would've been amazing. then it turns out they got one winged fucking angel for the entrance. insane.
omega/okada I in the dome is my favorite match of all time. this match likely surpassed it. the extra years of history and callbacks they had available to them really added to things. omega really cementing his case for one of the greatest storytellers ever inside the ropes.
the part of the match between the turnbuckle DDT and ospreay's comeback was out of this world great. i wasn't in love with aspects of the last several minutes, but still a very great match overall.
omega definitely has a gear he can still turn up to in japan that he doesn't utilize in AEW.
That debut for Mercedes was way closer to the steaming poops compared to pristine. The promo just didn't click and the execution of the attack (though not really her fault) could've been much better. Clearly a lot of room to grow but that was less than ideal.
Omega/Ospreay was fantastic.
that promo was very standard american as far as delivery and beats. a japanese crowd isn't going to fill in those big giant pauses with anything or react to the word BITCH like an english crowd. definitely was not the ideal situation for a big comeback with this kind of booking. i imagine if she is the mystery partner next week it'll go over way more like expected.
So far I've only seen pics of Mercedes' debut and I think the new look is dope. Have not found video yet but disappointed to hear it was a bit of a whiff.
here's the whole in-ring portion plus the backstage comments.
and here's the entrance.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCirc...rmath_of_iwgp/
Thanks. I expected a lot worse from what people were saying. The look is dope. The music was a little lackluster but was distinct. The move seemed botched, like it was supposed to be a DDT and they didn't hook up properly at the end. I have no idea why anyone took issue with the mic work. So really, only one strike against it in my mind, otherwise, totally decent.
i like her new look just fine. but that move was a disaster in execution, but bad in theory too.
that's exactly what it was supposed to be.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCirc...move_debuting/
Not a perfect show by any means but I had a blast watching it, which hasn't really been the case with Wrestle Kingdom for a few years now. The crowd involvement was a welcome return even if they're not as noisy as they were pre-pandemic. That will take some time I expect.
One absolute classic in Ospreay/Omega. Ospreay's performance was incredible and really surprised me as I'm not always his biggest fan. His selling in the second half of the match was something else. Looked like Terry Funk at times. That final 10 minutes really helped to put over the big spots that had come earlier. That Croyt's Wrath off the top was disgusting. Kenny doing the Shining impression with the broken table. So good. GREAT entrances too. I was thrilled to hear the return of "Elevated".
A handful of other really good matches and a couple which were just okay. I liked Narita/ZSJ and the tag title match a good deal. The Jr. tag opener was made more memorable by Rush's blood. Even Anderson/Tonga had that absolutely devastating looking piledriver on the ramp. That was nuts. I was fully behind Master Wato in the junior 4-way. He had some great near falls. But it wasn't to be.
Sasha/Mercedes' big return/debut didn't quite land in the way some may have hoped but I thought she looked incredible. The delivery was just a bit off. Not to worry - I think the match with KAIRI in the US will deliver regardless.
New Year Dash ruled
And the Yokohama Arena show is gonna be NJPW vs NOAH again. Looks like heavily LIJ vs Kongo.
Mercedes at the Dome was meh. Omega/Osprey was fantastic. I actually passed out during White/Okada and need to go back and watch it. Overall I really enjoyed the show.
Just read Near Year Dash results. Definitely need to watch that.
So the show in Yokohama is basically the LIJ vs Kongo show
NJPW "WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 IN YOKOHAMA ARENA", 21.01.2023 (Abema)
Yokohama Arena
0. Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Yasutaka Yano & Taishi Ozawa
0. Tomohiro Ishii & Oskar Leube vs. Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Satoshi Kojima & Takashi Sugiura vs. Naomichi Marufuji , KENTA, El Phantasmo & Gedo
2. El Desperado vs. YO-HEY
3. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. AMAKUSA , Junta Miyawaki & Alejandro
4. Kazuchika Okada & Togi Makabe vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura
5. LIJ vs. Kongoh 5 Singles Match Series: BUSHI vs. Tadasuke
6. LIJ vs. Kongoh 5 Singles Match Series: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Hajime Ohara
7. LIJ vs. Kongoh 5 Singles Match Series: SANADA vs. Manabu Soya
8. LIJ vs. Kongoh 5 Singles Match Series: Shingo Takagi vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima
9. LIJ vs. Kongoh 5 Singles Match Series: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenoh
I still think Mercedes ends up back with WWE, maybe as a Mania return.
One of Paul’s girls, he’s played a massive part in her career; he would probably gladly welcome her back when she’s ready.
2 things
Her deal with NJPW lasts more than 3 months
Vince McMahon is in charge of WWE again
Holy shit Okada vs Kaito was amazing
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